Gazetteer of
British Place Names

White Castle (Welsh: Castell Gwyn) is a ruined Norman castle near Llantilio Crossenny, Monmouthshire. It was established by the Normans in the wake of the invasion of England in 1066, to protect the route from Wales to Hereford. It intially comprised three large earthworks with timber defences. In 1135, King Stephen brought together White Castle and its sister fortifications of Grosmont and Skenfrith to form a lordship known as the "Three Castles", to defend the region from Welsh attack. King John gave the castle to a powerful royal official, Hubert de Burgh, in 1201. During the 13th-century period, White Castle was substantially rebuilt, with stone curtain walls, mural towers and gatehouses, forming what the historian Paul Remfry described as "a masterpiece of military engineering". In 1267 it was granted to Edmund, the Earl of Lancaster, and remained in the hands of the earldom, and later duchy, of Lancaster until 1825. Edward I's conquest of Wales removed much of White Castle's purpose. By the 16th century it had fallen into disuse and ruin. The monument is in the care of Cadw. It is within the council area of Monmouthshire.
CADW Scheduled Monument MM006.

Place Type: Mediæval Castle
Alternative name(s): Castell Gwyn
Historic County: Monmouthshire
Lat, Long: 51.846091,-2.9022413
Grid Reference: SO 3794 1677
Community (Civil Parish): Whitecastle C
Council Area: Monmouthshire CA
Police Area: Gwent PA
Devolved Legislature:  Welsh Assembly (Senedd)

GBPN ID: 65651
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/White_Castle,_Monmouthshire_65651

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